More on this story

Federal prosecutors in Virginia sought life terms for 27-year-old Edwin Barcus and 21-year-old Joshua Dumas. But U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema opted for sentences closer to the mandatory minimum of 20 years. Dumas received the shorter sentence.

Court documents indicate Barcus founded the operation, which prostituted at least 23 women and seven minors in seven southern states as far back as 2007. Dumas, who had the word "pimp" tattooed above his eye, and Barcus used violence and intimidation to keep girls in the prostitution ring when they wanted to quit.

They recruited girls and women through backpage.com and other Internet sites.